Remembering A Fallen Cyclist: Eric John Gray-Kennedy

Several weeks ago I published these blurry pictures. They turned out to be pictures of a fatal crash. Eric John Gray-Kennedy passed shortly after this incident, and his partner left a sad comment on the post.

“The biker who was hit by this car, was my boyfriend. If anyone has any information as to what exactly happened and the driver, can you please contact me here! Thanks”

It was a simple and sad request and if anyone has any information to share please contact me and I will pass it along. I have already been contacted by one person who was with Eric at the crash scene and who kindly did the best they could to help him as he suffered.

Over the last couple years these sort of stories have been the absolutely hardest things I have had ever had to do, and turned out to be a totally unexpected function of this site. Part of me is torn apart by having to play middle man to grieving parties seeking information about their dead loved ones, but I am also comforted that my humble website could provide some small amount of comfort by getting them the information they need.

Eric had a very nice obituary in his home town news paper which I have copied below. The guest book on the site contains some heart breaking remarks, this man was clearly loved by many.

I can only hope that I wont have to write any more reports of fallen cyclists, be careful out there everyone.

BOSTON and OLD TOWN – Eric John Gray-Kennedy, 46, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at Boston Medical Center, as the result of a bicycle and motor vehicle accident Sept. 20, 2010, in Boston. Eric was born March 3, 1964, in Bangor, son of Harold J. and Prudence M. Grant Kennedy. Eric grew up in Old Town and was a 1983 graduate of Old Town High School. He attended the University of Maine, Orono, and was a graduate of Cambridge College, Cambridge, Mass., earning a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. Eric worked for several years at Boston Medical Center as a licensed mental health counselor and had been employed for the past two years as a hotline supervisor at Judge Baker Children’s Center, Boston. In his spare time Eric loved going to the beach in Provincetown, Mass., and Randolph Country Club with his friends. In addition to his parents, he is survived by three brothers, Scott Kennedy of Old Town, Kurt Kennedy and his wife, Anna, of Waterboro and Todd Kennedy of Old Town; his paternal grandmother, Lovina Kennedy; two uncles, Edmund Kennedy and his wife, Dorothy, and Glenn Kennedy and his wife, Peggy, all of Greenbush; two aunts, Margaret “Peggy” Grant of Old Town and Janice Madore and her husband, Paul “Tony,” of Greenbush; four nephews, Andrew Kennedy of Bedford, N.H., and Derrick, Dustin and Dalton Kennedy, all of Waterboro; and several cousins. Eric is especially remembered by his lifelong friend, Diane Cousins Berube of Old Town. Eric is also survived by his “Boston family,” Mary Ann Warren-Hollins and her husband, Charles, and their son, Khalil, Gerry James, Allen Williams, Chris Baker, Bridget Mason and Toni Rose. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Harrison Kennedy, and Anthony and Margaret Grant; as well as his aunt, Loretta Rumney; and his uncle, Richard Grant. Visiting hours will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, at Birmingham Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at Holy Family Parish, 429 Main St., Old Town. Interment will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Old Town. Afterward family and friends are invited to a light luncheon at the parish hall. Those desiring may make donations in Eric’s memory to Old Town Animal Orphanage, P.O. Box 565, Orono, ME 04473.

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